EFFECT OF RAIN. 135 



edict was therefore issued, calling upon all persons 

 to assist in removing the larvae from the trees, while 

 they were as yet not reinforced by the addition 

 of countless millions more. In orchards, gardens, 

 and pleasure-grounds this became a far from diffi- 

 cult duty, because it was easy to ascend the trees 

 and to remove the larvse and their nests. But in 

 dense forests, where the tall trees waved high in 

 the air, and where every, branch and every twig 

 was loaded with larvae, it was plainly impossible. 

 Although, as we know, acts of parliament are 

 able to effect a great deal, these insects set their 

 powers at defiance, and little good was really ac- 

 complished. Having thus, as it were, manifested 

 to the nation how powerless were their efforts to 

 remove the plague, it pleased God to interfere by 

 his providence, and a succession of cold rains for 

 three days in May effectually stopped the progress 

 of the destroyers, by utterly annihilating them. 



Reaumur's remarks well deserve extracting ; he 

 says : " I had been hoping much from the effect 

 of these showers, and attentively watched what 

 would be the result. I saw day by day that 

 among the little bands of Iarva3 which were aggre- 

 gated together in order to cover the twigs of the 



